Winner of seven festival prizes and nominated for an Academy Award, "The Most Dangerous Man in America" is a remarkably relevant film. It revisits the Vietnam War, a pivotal point in American history, and presents the reactions of Washington and the news media to disclosures of shocking truths about the war and the presidencies of Johnson and Nixon. The film is very much about the inevitable conflicts between press and power, and how, under the First Amendment, the country has navigated those conflicts. It's difficult not to make comparisons to the present, when it's hard to imagine journalists and networks taking such courageous stands. But, as the film demonstrates, it can be done.

The film is also about individual transformation, courage, and moral engagement. It chronicles Pentagon/Rand Corporation insider Daniel Ellsberg's growth from true believer to skeptic, from militarist to pacifist. It focuses on his daring endeavor to leak top-secret government papers that, once published, helped to invalidate the catastrophic intervention and to hasten its end. This absorbing documentary features compelling footage of Ellsberg, Nixon, Walter Cronkite, New York Times editor Max Frankel, and other key players in the drama.

This is one of the most substantive, insightful, and best-made documentaries ever shown in the Tri-City Film Series.

Now near 80, Daniel Ellsberg remains politically active. After recent releases by Pvt. Bradley Manning and Wikileaks, he has spoken strongly in support of their courageous efforts to inform the public.

Tri-City Documentary Series opens the fall season with "The Most Dangerous Man in America" followed by a moderated discussion.

The Most Dangerous Man in AmericaSaturday, September 181:30 p.m.Fremont Main Library2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont(510) 745-1400www.TriCityPerspectives.orgAdmission free